News

Drugs squad seize £70k over Christmas

DRUGS squad officers seized more than £70,000 in hard drugs over the Christmas and New Year period.

Three significant seizures have seen around £73,000 worth of Class A drugs taken off the streets of Swindon and approximately £13,000 in cash.

The latest investigation into the supply of Class A drugs in Swindon took place between New Year's Eve and this Wednesday.

Officers from the Dedicated Crime Team attended the Premier Inn, at Kembrey Park, on Wednesday afternoon and arrested four people on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

Subsequent enquiries led to another two people being arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.

Addresses were also searched in Eldene and Liden and a warrant was executed in the Dean Street area of Swindon where the a quantity of crack cocaine and Heroin were discovered and seized. These have an estimated street value of £15,000 along with £1,000 in seized cash.

Among those arrested on suspicion of being involved in the supply of class A drugs were a 16-year-old girl and a 27-year-old man from Reading, a 21-year-old man from the London area, two women aged 20 and 21 from the Bedford area and a 22-year-old man of no fixed abode.

All have been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Sergeant Scott Hargreave of the Dedicated Crime Team said: "This has been a very positive period for us.

"Between the Christmas and New Year period we had two significant seizures of drugs and cash.
"The first being after the execution of a warrant in the Paramount building in Swindon where Cocaine, Ketamine, Cannabis and Meow Meow were seized with an estimated street value in excess of £52,000 along with £2,000 cash.

"The second seizure came following a stop of a vehicle on the M4 resulting in Cocaine with an estimated street value of £6,000 along with approx £10,000 cash being seized.

"This third seizure of drugs demonstrates our commitment to continually and robustly target people who bring harm to families and communities in Wiltshire by supplying controlled drugs.

"We would like to hear from anyone who has information on the supply of drugs in Wiltshire and this will be dealt with in the strictest confidence."

Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Angus Macpherson said: "Those with drugs habits can become trapped in a cycle of reoffending and live a life of social exclusion.

"I welcome this news that more than £73,000 of class A drugs have been removed by Wiltshire Police Dedicated Crime Team from Swindon's streets during the Christmas and New Year period."

A spokeswoman from Premier Inn said: "We can confirm that the police were called to the Premier Inn on Kembrey Business Park in the early hours of the morning on the 2 January.

"As it is now a police matter, we are unable to make any further comment however we are co-operating fully with their investigation."

Anyone with information should contact Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously.